Anti-consumer practices must be prosecuted in all aspects of the business world. On June 23, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has denounced the swindle that is allegedly being committed in several of the most important food companies in the country. The complaint has passed into the hands of the National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC). Find out with us!
Many companies suspected of fraud
La OCU has denounced many of the most well-known and important food companies in Spain. The brands accused of reduction are Pastas Gallo, Danone, Pescanova, Colacao, Tulip and Cold Field. The objective of the complaint is to determine if this practice is a type of unfair competition. This is because it is a process that lacks transparency facing consumers.
Regardless of the legality of the reduflation, the OCU has criticized the opacity of these practices. In his own words, "most of the time it's imperceptible for the consumers". From the organization they consider that these hidden price increases must be warned in various ways to consumers. This would seek to avoid the risk of fraud and unfair competition.
La OCU plans to take the claim to more products and companies as the investigation into the content of the products progresses. In addition to the complaint to the body chaired by Cani Fernandez, the OCU will report this situation to the Ministry of Consumption. In this way, the aim is to study the implementation of measures that oblige manufacturers to to improve la insights companies give consumers of their products.
What is reduflation?
The main reason for the claim is based on the Prices of certain foods. Apparently, these would have been maintained despite the fact that the content of the product would have been reduced. The complaint comes because this amount that the companies save in each product can be considered as Unfair competition. In addition to being a form of price manipulation «imperceptible«.
The organization has denounced that the increase of the prices of energy and raw materials has caused a significant rise in the prices of different goods y services. Specifically, the figure ranges from 9,4% per year in the cost of food. They have also warned that several of the large manufacturers have resorted to this technique. All this with the aim of avoiding the penalty which means the price increase.
According to several OCU studies, less than 7% of products of your basket have been affected by this practice. The problem lies in the information that companies have given about this fact. From the point of view of the information on the packaging and labeling of the products, meets with the regulations. However, the lack of direct notices is what can be classified as unfair competition and attempted manipulation.
Danone denies fraud allegations
Among the accused companies, for the moment Danone She is the only one who has spoken about it. The dairy brand has rejected the accusations of the consumer organization and aseguran have not carried out this practice. For this reason, the company has issued a statement regarding the accusation. In it, they maintain their position in which they deny having committed any swindle intentional.
The brand has indicated that «We are forced to deny emphatically the information published today by the OCU in which it included Danone as one of the companies that they are going to denounce before the CNMC for having applied reduction measures in an informal way unfair for consumers in recent months. Danone has always implemented a policy of proactivity and transparency with the OCU. We have facilitated collaboration in terms of reformulation, packaging and collaborative governance.
What do you think? Have you noticed any changes in your shopping basket lately?
